Electric-railway conduit with tubular conductor



' (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. J. VAN DEPOBLE. ELEGTRIG RAILWAY CONDUIT WITH TUBULA B, CUNDUUTOR$.No. 435,263. Patented Aug. 26, 1890.

HHI HI (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. J. VAN DEPOELE..

' ELEGTRIO RAILWAY GONDUIT WITH TUBULAR CONDUGTORS.

No. 435,263., Patented Aug. 26,1890.

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o HiL 5 N'WMT" VIII/Ill/II/IIlI/l/Il/III1/IifiiiWWY/MM/W/MM/WIWMMMMWM(No Model.) 4 Sheetssheet 3.

, C.'J. VAN DEPOELE. ELEGIRIG RAILWAY GONDUIT WITH TUBULAR GON-DUGTORS.

No. 435,263. Patented Aug. 26,1890.

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Swan whoa answer for this purpose.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC-RAILWAY CONDUIT WITH TUBULAR CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,263, dated August26, 1890.

' Application filed May 22, 1890. Serial No. 352,719, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric-Railway Conduits with Tubular Conductors, of which thefollowing is a description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in electric railways, and moreparticularly to an improved conduit for subsurface conductors, theparticular object of the invention beinga conduit within which a mainsupply conductor or conductors can be completely inclosed andeffectually protected from any and all exterior influences. With thisobject in View I form each main supply-conductor as a continuousmetallic tube, which may be of any desirable metal, although thecheapest formssuch as wrought-iron gas-pipe-will The tubular ,conductoris to be well insulated upon its outside, as by a coating of a heavybituminous substance having high insulating properties, together with astrong fabric. The tubular conductor is carried upon insulating-supportswithin the best-known form of slotted subsurface conduit, theconductor-being then doubly protected. The current is collected from theinterior surface of the tubular conductor. "This is accomplished bycontactmaking devices in the form of metallic plungers carried byinsulating-sockets detachably secured in the conductor and readilyremovable for replacement or examination. The contactsare separatelyconstructed, and each is provided with a small retracting-springcontained within its casing, and they are all arranged to be entirelyindependent and selfacting. The current is collected by means of a longshoe, which is carried by a thin shank extending through the surfaceslot and into mechanical as well as electrical connection with thevehicle, and the shoe is desirably arranged to engage and press down aplurality of contacts simultaneously-that is to say, as one of thecontacts is released by the passage of the shoe one in advance ispressed down and two or more are always under pressure and in contactwith the conductor. With this arrangement the failure View showing aconduit provided with a single conductor. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of a portion of a single-conductor conduit embodyingthe invention, parts of the structure being broken away for purposes ofillustration. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views of thecontact-makers. Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional end views showing detailsof the construction of the conduit. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of aportion of the conduit partly broken away and with parts removed to showthe interior arrangement. Fig. 9 is a view in elevation showinga portionof the tubular conductor removed from the conduit. Figs. 10 and 11 areenlarged detail views showing means for sustaining the tubular conductorin Working position.

In the drawings, A is the tubular conductor, which may be composed ofany suitable metal, that having the highest conductivity being of coursethe very best for the purpose. By the disposition of the necessary partsI am, however, enabled to employ cheaper material with good results, andfind that according to the present invention I can construct the mainsupply conductor or conductors of the very cheapest and the mostavailable materialfor instance, galvanized wrought-iron gas-pipe. Thisis due to the fact that I prefer-t0 use a tubular conductor ofconsiderable size and to make the running contact upon the interiorthereof. Having considerable cross-section, the mass of the metalforming the pipe-conductor will be so great that even though of inferiorconductivity its resistance will be low enough to economically conveythe currents usually employed on electric-railway working-conductors,and enable me therefore to use the simplest, most durable, and at thesame time cheapest and most available form of inclosed conductor yetproposed. The tubular metallic conductor A is formed in sections of- ICOany suitable or convenientlength, which may be united by welding,lapping, or the usual collars a, into which the ends of thesections tobe joined are fitted. The collars a may be screw-threaded at one end,but should be plain at the other, so that one end of the pipe may befitted thereinto without screw-connections, in order to allow ofmovement there in to compensate forexpansiomand contraction.The'continuous tubular conductor is insulated upon its exteriorthroughout its whole length, the insulation extending over.

the couplings, so as to prevent the access of moisture at any point. Theinsulation B may be applied in any desired manner; butfor many purposesa smooth wrapping of heavy fabric thoroughly coated withinsolubleinsulating material will answer all purposes, although thereare many known compositions of matter which may be applied to theexterior of the tubular conductor to form a very eflicient exteriorinsulation therefor. The current is collected from the interior of thetubular conductor by means of a series of contact devices secured in andextending through the walls thereof. These contacts, while permanentlyin position, are all normally out of contact and only rendered activeupon the passage of the current-collecting device moving with the"ehicle.

A series of holes are formed along the tubular conductor and at regularintervals, and said holes may be at any desired distance. As hereindicated they are about a footapart, and in each of these holes issecured a springcontact device 0. Each contact device comprises aninsulating-socket B which is screwthreaded to engage correspondingscrewthreads in the openings in the tubular conductor and provided withasuitable shoulder 17, so that it may be screwed down into perfectlytight contact with the exterior of the conductor. The socket B extendsinto the tubular conductor and carries a contact 0 at its lowerextremity, which contact may be of carbon, if desired. The contact C issecured to the lowerend of a stem E, which extends upward through thesocket B' and is provided at its outer end with a metallic head (1.Between the head (1 and the shoulder bof the socket is placedaspringD,wl1ich normally sustains the stem, head, and contact, so thatthe contact is well clear of the interior surface of the conductor. Acollar or pin e, connected with the lower part of the stem E, limits theaction of the spring D, and when the contact-makers are similarlyconstructed the heads d will be normally in sub stantially the samehorizontal plane. The conductor being sustained in substantially similarrelation to a railway-track, it follows that a vehicle traveling uponthe said track and provided with a current-collecting device arranged todepress the heads d successivelywill in its travel be continuouslysupplied with current conveyed from the interior of the tubularconductor through the contacts C, stems E, heads d, and the travelingcollector. A form of collector is indicated in Fig. 3, the samecomprising an extended metal shoe F, having upwardly-sloped extremitiesf. As shown, the collector Fis of a length sufficient to engage three ofthe contact-s, and in its forward movement it will always depress onecontact in advance before leaving the rearmost one, thereby preventingbreaking of the circuit and consequent wear on the parts from sparking,and there will, moreover, always be enough of the contacts in action tocarry any desired amount of current. Obviously, the collector can bemade longer or shorter, as desired. The contactpiece F of the collectorshould be well protected by exterior insulation, and theupwardly-extending portion thereof G should be protected by insulationand also by exterior wearing-plates g at that part where it is liabletobe brought in contact with the adjacent structure.

A special feature of the invention consists in the facility with which adamaged contactmaker can be replaced, it being only necessary to unscrewthe socket B and substitute another, since the entire mechanism of thesaid contact-makers is self-contained. It may sometimes happen thatthrough irregularities in the conductor a sufficient number of the Dconnect the head d withits immediate,

support 01, and adjustable bolts (1 pass through the cross-bars d foradjusting the, I

tension of the secondary springs D. The springs D should preponderate inpower, so that the springs D will be depressed and the contact bebrought into engagement with the conductor before the other set ofsprings yields, as may be necessary to permit. the passage of thecollector.

Various forms of subsurface conduits may beemployed'in connection withmy improved conductor, several constructions of which will be referredto.

Fig. 1 shows a double-conductor conduit having one of my improvedconductors arranged on each side, so that the contacts 0 form twoparallel horizontal lines, between which moves a double collectorcomprising,

vertical shoes F F, thoroughly insulated from each other and providedwith separate insulated extensions conveyed upward th rough; the bladeH, which passes through the surface slot I into connection with themoving vehicle.

suitable intervals side brackets K. To the side brackets are securedhollow U-shaped side pieces L, which are set up edgewise upon the base Jand secured thereto.

The conduit itself comprises a me-' tallic base-piece J, upon which aresecured at In the hollows of the side pieces are located the conductorsA, being sustained in position by proper insulated supports R. Theroad-bars or capping-plates 7c is are sustained upon'the upper edges ofthe side pieces L, from which of course they may readily be removed topermit access to the conduit. The side pieces L do not meet either aboveor below. Consequently there exists between them a continuousopen-drainage slot at their lower part, through which any matterenteringthe surface slot will fall and in most cases without lodging upon thecontacts 0.

Fig. 2 shows a slightly-different construction, resembling theexteriorstructure shown in Fig. 1 of my patent, No. 408,639, datedAugust 6, 1889, but provided in addition witha deflecting-strip Z, whichis formed of a thin continuous piece of metal, the upper edge of whichis secured between the edge 1% of-the side wall M of the conduit and thecapping-plate k. In this form the conductor is arranged centrally withinthe conduit with its contact 0 in verti-' cal position, and the blade His curved so as a to extend over and reach under the deflecting-strip Z.

A very simple and desirable form of conduit is indicated in Figs. 6,7,and 8, in which continuously-joined sections of metal trough N aresustained within yokes n, carried upon the cross-ties of the road way.With this form the conduit is preferably about square, and has one upperedge 0 turned inward and its opposite edge P turned outward.Furthermore, the inturned edge 0 is cut away as much as possible-thatis, formed with long scallops between the points 0, at which theconductor is supported. The conductor is arranged at one side of theconduit under the edge 0, so that, as indicated in Fig. 8, when theroad-bars are removed free access can be had to almost every part of theconductor, and the conductor can be placed or removed through theopening so made. In order to afiord equal support to the road-bars 70 10they are so placed that the slot is formed at I one side of the conduit,and consequently the blade H is curved inwardly to bring the collector Fupon the contacts O. The conduit may be drained at suitable points byconnections Q with a sewer q, the connections being indicated in dottedlines. Suitable short tubular supports R are provided for the conductor,the said supports fitting over the exterior insulation thereof and beingsuitably attached to the walls of the conduit. The said supports may beof hard strong insulating material or they may be of metal and beinsulated from the conduit at the point of attachment. The conductor maybe either slipped through the support in sections before being united orthe said support may be divisible and joined after the conductors are inplace. Where the sections are short, the supports themselves mayconstitute the couplings, and such a form is indicated at S, Fig. 10;The support S is formed with tically air-tight.

a part or short bracket S, for attachment'to' the side wall of theconduit, and is provided with insulationsat its point of support. Thetubular part of the support S is formed as a slip-joint at one end andis screw-threaded at the other, thereby alfording an efficient supportfor the ends of the conductor and at the same time allowing forexpansion and contraction. Where. more than one support is required foreach section of conductor, as where the sections are made ofconsiderable length, tubular and preferably divisible supports areprovided between and in addition to the end supports. The supports willusually be of about the same thickness as the ordinary couplings, andwill therefore interpose no obstacle to the free travel of thecollector, since they will all be below the plane of compression of thecontacts.

The inner edges of the road-bars are arranged in every instance clear ofthe com tacts, and therefore extraneous matter entering the slot willusually pass clear of the conductor, and the conduits, beingprovidedwith drainage-openings at their lower part, will 1 usually bekept clear of foreign matter without difficulty.

In the forms shown in Figs, 1, 6, and 7 brushes might readily be run inthe conduit for the purpose of cleaning the same. Fur

thermore, it is believed that the conductor as here described is mostcompletely protected from all extraneous matter, as when all the partsare in good condition it will be prac- The contacts, as well as thematerial of the conductor itself, should be of non-corrosive material;but notwithstanding this it maybe found desirable to occasionally forcedry air through the tubular conductor, which may readily be done byconnecting an air-pump to one end of the conductor, which may be foundadvantageous under some circumstances, as pointed out in my patent, No.

404,325, dated May 28,1889.

The hereinbeforedescribed hollow conductor insulated upon its exteriorand carrying contact-makers extending through its walls I believe to beentirely novel, and as such claim the same, broadly, and it is hereparticularly pointed out that my improved conductor is especiallyapplicable to existing conduits in which electric conductors have failedby grounding or otherwise, or in which the cable system has beenemployed. The supporting devices can of course be readily modified tosuit the interior construction of my conduit.

Itwill be obvious that various minor changes and modifications maybemade in the details of the herein-described invention without departingfrom the spirit or nature thereof, and I therefore do not limit myselfto precisely what is herein shown and described byway of necessaryillustration.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. A tubular conductor and fixed contact devices extending from theexterior to the interior thereof, substantially as described.

2. A tubular conductor inclosed in insulatingmaterial and fixedcontact-making devices extending from the exterior to the interiorthereof, substantially as described.

3. A tubular conductor having'an exterior insulating-envelope and fixedcontact mak-' ing devices extending through and sustained therein,substantially asdescribed.

4. A tubular conductor permanently inclosed within an insulatingenvelopeand having contact-making devices extending through both the insulationand the conductor to make contact wit-hthe interior of the conductor andremovably sustained in the wallzthereof, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a tubular conductor inclosed within aninsulating-envelope, a contact device comprising an insulating-supportextending through the wall of the conductor, a movable contact, and aspring for retracting the same.

6. The combination of a tubular conductor inclosed within aninsulating-en velope, a contact device comprising an insulating-supportextending through the wall of the conductor, a movable contact, a springfor retracting the same, and a traveling current-collector arranged tomove the contact into engagement 1 with the interior of the conductor.

7. A continuous tubular cond uctor comprising tubular sections, metalliccouplings uniting the ends of the-sections, an exteriorinsulating-envelope inclosing the sections and couplings, and a seriesof contact-making devices carried by and extending from the exterior tothe interior of the conductor, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a slotted subsurface conduit, of a hollowconductor or conductors sustained within said conduit and provided withan exterior insulating-envelope and contact devices extending from theexterior to the interior thereof, and a traveling collecting device ordevices extending through the slot of the "conduit into engagement withthe contact devices upon the conductor or conductors, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combinatiomwith a slotted subsurface conduit, of a hollowconductor or conductors formed of tubular sections united by tubularcouplings provided with brackets for attachment to the wall or walls ofthe conduit sustained within said conduit and provided with an exteriorinsulating-envelope and contact devices extending'from the exterior tothe interior thereof, and a traveling collecting device or devicesextending through the slot into engagement with the contact devices uponthe conductor orconductors, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a tubular conductor, an inclosing insulatingenvelope therefor, and suitable snpports,of an exterior casing orconduit composed of a metallic trough, against one sideof the interiorofwhich the conductor-supports are attached, said conduit having aninwardly-turned edge'extending over the conductor and road-bars arrangedto form a surface slot at or near one side of the conduit, and acollecting device extending through the slot of the conduit and curvedinto line with the contact devices upon the conductor, substantially asdescribed.

11. A subsurface conduit comprising a metallic trough having one edgeturned inwardly and one outwardly, road-bars sustained upon said edgesto form asurface slot adjacent to one side of the conduit, saidinwardly-turned edge being indented to give greater access to theconduit when the roadbar is removed, and a suitable conductor sustainedwithin the conduit under the inwardlyturned edge, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE. Witnesses:

HENRY A. LAND, WM. D. PooL.

